A Heated Debate Between Two Charismatic Geniuses: A Cardinal Fan (Jeff Lung) and a Tiger Fan (Allen Krause)

A Snake in the Grass?

There is no Irish in baseball. Well, unless you include Jeff Samardzija, formerly of the Fightin’ Irish from Notre Dame. But today is a good day so I don’t want to talk about that. No, today is a day when we celebrate the completely fabricated story of St. Patrick ridding the Emerald Isle of snakes. However, apparently there are snakes aplenty within the comfy confines of the World Baseball Classic.

Much attention has been focused over the past few days on the Venezuelan fans booing of Magglio Ordonez. Now, when you seem to have become the lapdog of old friend of RSBS, Hugo Chavez and you are playing in front of a bunch of people who left Venezuela because of Hugo Chavez, well, it makes sense that something has to give. And so far that something has been any residual love for Maggs.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about booing hated players. My brothers have made a sport of riling opposing outfielders from the cheap seats in left field and I’ve been known to throw a few choice words the way of batters during tight softball games. But the thing those people have in common is that they play for the opposing team. When you have become a pariah to even your own fans, it might be time to rethink your actions.

Against Puerto Rico, some of the hatred seemed to subside and in a tight game, the Venezuelan fans were cheering every hit their team could muster. But pity the man if he pulls a Buckner or manages to strike out at an inopportune moment. Maggs, you’re on notice.

My hair is almost as long as Magglio’s. Maybe if I get a really good tan this summer (yeah right) I can be him for Halloween.
Why do these fans care what Magglio’s political stance is? He’s a freakin’ baseball player. Are you telling me his endorsement of a bill got it passed? What’s he going to do next…stage a coup in the U.S. and get Hugo Chavez seated in the White House? Of course not. He’s going to hit .330 like he does almost every year. He could do that while wearing a Che Guevara shirt under his jersey every game; it would still be a .330 batting average and he’d still be one of the best hitters around.
Todd Wellemeyer is a card-carrying Republican and a former Cub. Could I have any more reason to boo him? Probably not. But none of that matters, because it doesn’t affect what he does on the mound. And that’s really all I care about when I see him pitch at Busch Stadium.

Amen Bird-Brained!!!
Julia — I agree… sorta ;-) What else would Al and I write about if it didn’t?
Matt — Three leafed? I thought it was four. But I ain’t no Catholic so what do I know?
Erin — Me too.
Jane — We’ll see what we can do for ya. We know people… and by people I mean affluent white people who live in Farmington Hills.
And for the record, I think Magglio is sketchy yet productive.
–Jeff

Meta

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.